Working toward self-determination for the West Papuan people

Urgent need for Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Human Rights Court in Papua

June 1, 2011

Press Release from LP3BH

Law 21/2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua as amended by Law 35/2008 states the following in article 46, para (1): ‘In order to strengthen unity of the people in the province of Papua, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be set up while Article 46 reads as follows: ‘ Within the framework of strengthening unity and unanimity, a Trth and Reconciliation shall be set up.’

‘The task of the Commission (KKR) shall be (a) to reach a clarification of Papuan history to solidify unity and unanimity of the nation within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and (b) to draft measures towards reconciliation.’

In further elucidation of Article 46, it states the need for reconciliation which shall include the acknowledgement of errors, the need for apology, the offer of forgiveness, peace, the rule of law, amnesty, rehabilitation or other alternatives necessary to upholding the sense of justice with the community in order to uphold unity and unanimity.

In the opinion of LP3BH-Manokwari, the Association for Research, Advocacy and Development of Legal Aid, a Commission for Truth and Reconciliation is an integral part of the implementation of special autonomy that should as a matter of urgency be implemented the Indonesian Government and the regional government in the Land of Papua, namely the governments of Papua and West Papua.

The formation of the KKR is very urgent. There are four issues that need to be dealt with: first, the marginalisation and effective discrimination against the indigenous Papua people as a result of economic developments; political conflicts; and the mass in-migration into Papua since the 1970s.Affirmative action needs to be taken in order to empower the indigenous Papuan people.

The second problem is the failure of development, especially in education, health and economic empowerment. This requires new paradigms directed towards development that is focussed on improving public services so as to advance the welfare of indigenous Papuans living in the kampungs.

The third issue is the contradiction between the history and political identities of Papua and Indonesia. This problem can only be resolved by means of dialogue such such happened in Aceh.

The fourth issue is the responsibility for state violence committed against Indonesian citizens in Papua. This needs reconciliation between a human rights court and the truth; to uphold the rule of law and justice for the victims, their families and all Indonesian citizens now living in Papua.

The way to resolve the third and fourth issues means, according LP3BH, the formation of a truth and reconciliation commission and the setting up of a human rights court in Papua. This is very urgent and pressing and requires the support both of the Indonesian Government and and the governments of the provinces of Papua and West Papua and the various legislative assemblies (DPRP and DRP PB) Why is this so? Because the historic contradictions and the political identities between Papua and Jakarta all too frequently become the trigger for social-political conflicts in the Land of Papua. It frequently happens that when Papuans take action to express their political aspirations in the form of peaceful demonstrations or events held to mark the anniversary of Papuan independence day on 1 December or the anniversary of the independence of the West Melanesian Republic on 14 December, these incidents become politicised by the state and treaed as criminal acts by the security forces (POLRI) with the arrest of activists of peaceful demonstrators who are then accused of MAKAR or of disturbing the public order and treated as a criminal act in accordance with the criminal code (KUHP).

The security forces frequently use violence amounting to human rights abuses towards victims either in the form of physical violence or violation of their rights as guaranteed in the KUHAP – the criminal procedural code.

On the other hand, ever since the Act of Free Choice (PEPERA), gross violations of human rights have been committed by the military against Papuan civilians who are killed, tortured or forcibly disappeared. Anything between 500 and 1,000 Papuan civilians have been murdered, tortured, forcibly disappeared, and subjected to other forms of violence by members f the military forces (TNI) in virtually all the towns and cities such as Jayapura, Merauke, Fakfak, Sorong, Manokwari and Biak. In Biak, a number of Papuans who work in the civil service as teachers, nurses, as well as people working for private enterprises, as well as those who worked during the Dutch period in Serui, Nabire and Biak have been arrested and imprisoned for more than two years at the TNI naval base in Biak.

In addition, properties have been unlawfully and forcibly seized from homes and shops belonging to Chinese inhabitants by members of the armed forces, it being alleged that they are assets owned by the OPM, which is used as justification. The civilian community in the Land of Papua have themselves felt how the Indonesian military security forces entered people’s homes and seized people’s belongings such as transistor radios, tinned food and drinks from The Netherlands All these things were confiscated by the Indonesian military apparatus in 1969 and taken off to Java.

All this has left feelings of bitterness and hatred among the civilian population in the Land of Papua going back many years, which are still being felt today. This is what the Rev. Benny Giay calls Memoria Pasionis.

According to the LP3BH, these matters should have been settled many years ago in accordace with international standards and basic human rights principles.

The LP3BH therefore makes the following demands:

1. The Indonesian Government should pay attention to the political need to immediately set up a Commission of Truth and Reconciliation in implementation of Law 21/2001, as well as set up a human rights court in Papua.

2. The provincial governments in Papua and West Papua should immediately introduce regulations with regard to the creation of the KKR, its composition, location, and its mode of operation as well as its funding.

3. The DPRP and the DPR PB should take the initiative and play a key role in efforts to set up the KKR and the human rights court in Papua as the way to solve the social-political conflicts which have continued to persist from 1969 up to the present day., which should be continued into the future but which have until now been regarded as matters of no importance, and about which nothing has at yet been done to comply with universal legal standards and basic human rights.

After she sat down, we walked peacefully up to her table with the Morning Star flag and asked if we could meet to discuss West Papua. Eventually she agreed to meet privately, but only with me and on condition that no photographs or flags were present. It was agreed and I was taken into a room, body ...

Song Papua February 21, 2018

For your search query Song Papua MP3 we have found 1000000 songs matching your query but showing only top 10 results only (Due to API limit restrictions we cannot show you more than 10 results). Now we recommend you to Download first result George Telek "west Papua" Papua Merdeka Remix ...

International Recognition Reaches Dead End, Indonesia Says West Papua's Bid, Pacific News Minute, End HawaiipublicradioFull, Get all the Latest news, Breaking headlines and Top stories, photos & video in real time about Southeast Asia News.

Culture Roundup: Feb 21-27 February 21, 2018

There will be a big fundraiser for West Papua at the Ewingsdale Hall on Saturday. Staring at 10 in the morning with yoga, then featuring the tranquil flute sounds of Lord Bhati, chi gong energy flow by Vitoria Borg-Oliver, guitar and vocals by Lucy Gallant, ecstatic free-flow dance by Anne O Hoy, the Band ...

Last week, we reported on the inconclusive decision by the Melanesian Spearhead Group on West Papua's bid for full membership. Since then, Indonesia's declared victory in its campaign to block international recognition for the United Liberation Movement, and we've learned more about how they did ...

Category:Pro West Papua February 21, 2018

Pages in category "Pro West Papua". “ Fijiball is a small island countryball in the Pacific. He is of enemy of Australiaball. He is... Fijiball · “ Netherlandsball, aka. Dutchball, is a Western European countryball. His clay is bordered by... Netherlandsball · “ New Caledoniaball is a French dependency sui ...

Indonesia says the US has undertaken to lift the remaining restrictions on engagement with Indonesia's Kopassus special forces, ending a 19-year ban on the unit linked to civilian killings and human rights abuses in West Papua, Aceh and East Timor. Former Indonesian military commander Moeldoko, ...

Tree house Korowai tribe Tree houses Indonesia and West papua February 21, 2018

But it's not just Abandoned Korowai treehouse, West Papua, Indonesia. Head of a Kombai clan stands before his tree KOROWAI TREE TRIBE. For this reason they retreat to the safety of their tree houses before sunset and remain there until first light. A challenging 2016 trekking expedition into the ...

1) ULMWP Can Pass Muster: Foreign Minister February 21, 2018

In a brief message yesterday, Vanuatu Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu responded to an Indonesian spokesman's claims by Indonesia's First Secretary for Political Affairs in Australia that West Papua's 'game is up'. Radio New Zealand reported earlier this week that Mr Sade Bimantara said that the ...

Indonesia: Overcoming challenges in developing February 21, 2018

Otniel Tamindael Antara 21 Feb 18; Jakarta (ANTARA News) - In the development of tourism sector in the "Bay of Paradise," better known as the Cendrawasih Bay National Park area that stretches in the border of Papua and West Papua provinces, the local government is faced with many challenges.

The Indonesian Statistics Agency reported last year that with 22 percent of the population living below the poverty line, East Nusa Tenggara ranks as the third poorest among Indonesia's 34 provinces after Papua and West Papua. And in a desperate bid to escape the poverty trap many parents are ...

West Kalimantan provinces recorded the highest number at 23 hotspots, followed by West Java 14, Central Kalimantan, 12, Riau 9, Riau Islands and Papua each had 4, Central Java 3, West Papua, East Java and Maluku each had 2, and Banka-Belitung Islands, North Maluku and South Sumatera each ...

Overcoming challenges in developing "Bay of Paradise" February 21, 2018

A diver recorded the activities of Whale Shark fish (Whale Shark) in Kwatisore, Cendrawasih Bay National Park, West Papua. ... sector in the "Bay of Paradise," better known as the Cendrawasih Bay National Park area that stretches in the border of Papua and West Papua provinces, the local government ...

The Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Meeting was held in Port Moresby last week, with a membership application from the United Liberation Movement for West Papua again under consideration. In The Diplomat, Grant Wyeth looks at how the MSG's members are sharply divided on the issue of ...

West Papua Liberation Army in fresh campaign against Indonesia February 21, 2018